HSPA’s 2022 Annual Conference

The Healthcare Sterile Processing Association’s (HSPA’s) Annual Conference is taking place April 23–27, 2022, at the San Antonio, Texas, Convention Center and will be the in-person sterile processing educational and networking event of the year.

After so many in-person events were canceled over the past two years due to the pandemic, attendees, industry experts and HSPA staff members are eager to meet again in person and participate in a wide range of educational offerings that will advance technical and leadership knowledge for the Sterile Processing department (SPD), provide updates to standards and regulations, develop and sharpen critical soft skills, and allow attendees to learn about the latest products and services impacting the profession. Attendees arriving early to San Antonio can kickstart their learning by participating in preconference labs and workshops (HSPA is offering assorted complimentary labs and workshops for registered attendees on a space-allowed basis; additional workshops, including the “Getting the Most from Your Instrument System” and “Hot Topics in SP Management” tracks and the “Educators Forum” are paid events that require pre-registration and additional payment).

“This year’s conference will bring us all together again for industry-leading education and valuable networking,” said HSPA’s Education Director Natalie Lind, CRCST, CHL, FCS. “There is nothing like the power of learning alongside professional peers and having an opportunity to meet with some of the industry’s leading experts. The positive energy and information sharing experienced at our in-person conference is something we are all eagerly anticipating once again, and our session and event lineup will not disappoint.”

The general conference schedule (Sunday, April 24–Wednesday, April 27) will provide 16 available continuing education (CE) credits, and additional CEs may be obtained by participating in preconference events and in-booth education offered in the Expo. The Expo, be held Monday and Tuesday, April 25–26, will feature more than 100 vendors and provide a perfect opportunity for attendees to ask questions and get up close and personal with the newest SP-related products and services.

What follows is an abbreviated schedule at a glance. To register or learn more about the 2022 HSPA Annual Conference, visit https://myhspa.org/conference-information.

Saturday, April 23

8–11:30 a.m.: Getting the Most From Your Instrument System (additional paid workshop)

8–11:30 a.m.: Hot Topics in SP Management (additional paid workshop)

8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.: Assorted Complimentary Labs/Workshops (free to registered conference attendees; limited space available—first come basis)

12:30—5 p.m.: Educator’s Forum (additional paid workshop)

Sunday, April 24

8–9 a.m.: Opening Remarks

9–10 a.m.: Opening Keynote (Ben Nemtin)

10:15–11:15 a.m. (General Session): Quality and Safety for Every Patient and Every Worker, Every Time

1—2 p.m.: Advocacy Update

2:30–3:30 p.m. (Concurrent Sessions): Dental Instrumentation and ANSI/AAMI; How to Evaluate Stains After Steam Sterilization; Managing Water Quality

3:45–4:45 p.m. (Concurrent Sessions): Inspecting and Integrity Testing of Insulated Instruments; Developing a Comprehensive Disinfection Sterilization System; No Unicorns in the OR

5 p.m.: HSPA Membership Meeting

7 p.m.: Opening Reception

Monday, April 25

7–8 a.m. (Concurrent Sessions): Surgical Tray Optimization; Strategies to Construct and Maintain Container Compliance

8:30–9:30 a.m. (Concurrent Sessions): Time Is Running Out: The Importance of Time and Environmental Conditions on Contaminated Instrumentation; Supply Chain and COVID-19: Behind the Scenes; Steam Sterilization Cycle Load Optimization

11 a.m.–12 p.m. (Concurrent Sessions): Challenges for Processing Robotic-Assisted Surgery; Sterilization Standards and Standard Development; Cost Analysis: Where Is Your Money Going?

1–5 p.m.: Expo Opens

Tuesday, April 26

7–8 a.m. (Concurrent Sessions): Man, All I Want to Do Is Clean; Best Practices in Sterile Processing

8 a.m.–12 p.m.: Expo Open

1:30–2:30 p.m. (General Session): AAMI ST91 Updates

2:45–3:45 p.m. (Concurrent Sessions): Leadership: Who Wants to Follow You; External Transportation; Bring It On! Test Your Knowledge in the Gamification of Vaporized Hydrogen Peroxide

4–5 p.m. (Concurrent Sessions): Professional Development for Frontline Staff; Can You Handle It? Medical Device Manufacturer Learning; Managing the Sterile Processing Department’s Different Leadership Styles